1987 Walter D. Koenig 6 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague HNR (30 April) 820. Got him! 6521 removed (4 eggs still in nest.) 1 May 1510. Still 4 eggs (#3 infertile; others fine), warm but not pipping yet. 2 May 640. 6521 released. Hole checked: still 4 eggs, not pipping yet. (6521 removed 2 days, 30 Apr-2 May.) 9 May 1445. 2 babies weighed: green LL: 24.6; G-R(w): 27.9. The experiment went as follows: the 4 eggs were intact on the evening of 2 May; 1 egg was pipping. By noon on 3 May there were 2 babies and no eggs or sign of other eggshells in the nest. Those 2 babies have survived thus far. Thus, odd things happened at hatching: the infertile egg disappeared, as did the (apparently normal, but who knows?) third regular egg. This could have been the work of anyone; strange things have frequently happened at hatching before. In any case, the nest was not destroyed, and 6521 is now doing some helping at the nest. 3 June *Group Update* 81150. At Y on 30 March (now breeding there). Also there on 24 March with other Y birds. Moved to Y, 24 March. 27 July 1000. Checked nest: crawling with ants! jDB-16/Meww dead; wt=32.2g. j982-43197 measured; 6led: wt=72.1g. Wing chord: 69; TL6th/10=42 6th/psmath: 28; Culmen: 20.1; TtoN: 13.2; BW=7.5; TLCR=31 LTsheath = 22. 3 August *Group Update*: 91149. Last seen 23 April. Not here by 24 June. →DA 23 May ±1 m. (Never seen at nest).